Stones pelted at Bhubaneswar-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express near Rourkela

Some unidentified miscreants pelted stones at the Vande Bharat Express while it was on its way from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela. The incident occurred on Wednesday near Kalunga station.  Though windowpanes have been damaged, there are no reports of injuries to passengers in the stone pelting incident.

As per initial reports, the train reached Rourkela as per schedule in the afternoon and later departed for Bhubaneswar at 2:15 PM. Following the attack, the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Rourkela has launched an investigation to identify the culprits.

The Railway officials have assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible for such incident that certainly endangers the safety of passengers.

Sources informed that the stones were pelted at the train at around 1 pm. 

This is not the very first time when stones were pelted at the express train in Odisha. 

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Previous Instances:

Earlier in November 2023, stones were pelted at a Vande Bharat Express travelling from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar between Meramandali and Budhapank stations in the Dhenkanal district. The assault resulted in damage to the train's windowpanes. 

Similarly, in July 2023, a minor was apprehended by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Balasore for pelting stones at the Vande Bharat Express. The juvenile was subsequently sent to a correctional facility. 

In November 2024, a rock was placed on the railway track near Nuapada, posing a potential threat to the Vande Bharat Express. Fortunately, the train pilot noticed the obstruction in time, and authorities were alerted to remove the rock, preventing any mishap.